Getting Better

I'm definitely not all there... but my range of motion is drastically improving.  I've been doing well with the eating... but come Monday- I'm back at trying the exercising.  :)  I'll go easy at first.  The LAST thing I want is to end up where I was a few weeks ago.  I'm still *stiff* after sitting or lying down... but I'm able to stretch it/walk it out without pain.  So...  Just thought I'd let you all know... I'm almost back with you...

And I'm getting SO excited!  :)

Oh... and I'm going to weigh-in again on Monday for my "new" start.   I'm hoping I didn't GAIN while away... I'll be okay if I stayed the same, though!  :)

So you know... (Quick Update)

My back is still having trouble.  I *am* improving... in fact, on Wednesday- I still wasn't able to kick and lift much weight, but I could get on the floor without hurting and didn't feel too much pain with general movement.  Then Wednesday night I rolled over in bed and felt a searing pain again.  :(

It hurt pretty bad yesterday, but today (Friday) does feel a bit better.  I'm stiff- but not in the kind of pain I was in yesterday. 

It is KILLING me to not be able to workout.  I *did* try the Total Gym twice now... and couldn't do it because of the pain.  So, we are waiting on that.  I also can't do the walking DVD's or anything else.  I feel like I'm LOSING ground.  :(  And, I have to fight the feelings of anger and injustice over it all... Because really- it's just "life"... I will be able to get back to it soon... it's just going to take time.  I was encouraged by a verse yesterday though... never thought I'd be encouraged about NOT working out through Scriptures.... LOL!

I Timothy 4:8

"For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."

Now, of course, we know that there are plenty of scriptures on taking care of our bodies/the temple of God... but this verse has encouraged me during this time of pain...  

I am trying to spend this time really looking into working on spiritual things/growing in godliness that I may have set aside during times where I USED to spend "working out". 

It's been an encouragement anyway while I "heal".  Perhaps the Lord has something to teach me, even in this. 

 ************

Angie asked about my eating... 

For the first two weeks, I was doing GREAT!  I was still following the same eating regimen.  But, I began feeling too full and was FORCING myself to eat. Then it occurred to me that I wasn't needing all that protein and calories since I wasn't working out.  So, I cut back.  

This week though... I've fallen back into the trap of skipping ALL meals but dinner again.  And I've noticed that I have less energy, too.  So... I am going to be working on that as much as I can over the weekend.  (We'll be traveling to go visit my nephew/son Cater in Minnesota... but I can at least work on eating THREE meals a day with a couple of snacks...)

So... that is where I am... 

Hmmm...

First I appreciate those who have stopped by and "checked in".  :)

Second, I'm wondering if my back went out... because my hip went out.  (That would explain why MOST of the pain has been the tailbone area- and not the actual back... although the extreme lower part hurts.)

My back is actually feeling a LOT better since yesterday morning.  The problem... my hip/tailbone is excruciating.   I was talking to my husband and it SEEMS plausible that when this whole thing started, it was actually my hip and NOT my back. 

On the morning of the injury, I was doing fine all morning, until I sat CROSS-LEGGED on the floor with the basket on my right side, and I was half turned, digging through it.  When I got up, instant, searing pain. And now, it is my RIGHT hip- the one that would have taken the blunt of the pressure, that hurts so!

So, in hindsight it seems it wasn't my "back" per se- although it may have been a secondary reaction to the hip going out...

This is GOOD news to me.  It tells me that it may NOT have been the TOTAL GYM after all!  :)  And if so, it gives me the confidence to know that I will probably be able to go right back to it once this is passed.  (I was nervous about doing it again because I didn't want to throw my back out every time.)

Anyway, thought I would update that bit of news.  I'm in quite a bit of pain... but it's from the hip mostly now.

Disappointed...

Yes, I did try the walking. And no, I couldn't do it.  It is still very painful to pick up my knees, or even a very gentle kick...  I *AM* walking around more, and I can TELL I'm getting better.  But, twisting, bending, stooping, driving or even riding in the van for more than 10 min. is still very painful.  I'm still in pain when I try to carry or lift anything as well.  However, I am able to do more and more... so I have hope that it's getting better. 

Jared told me no weights this week, and if I am still having problems by next Monday, I'll be going to see a physical therapist.  And while I am disappointed, I have to agree with him.  I am doing more and more stretching though... and if I continue feeling better, I might try *just* arms or *just* legs at the end of this week.  I hate sitting by on the sidelines.  That has NEVER been my forte... LOL!  But, I *MUST* give myself time to heal as well.  

I'm able to eat more now as well.  My jaw is still sore from  several days of clenching, but I can eat most things now... just nothing extra chewy or crunchy.   So that's good... but I have to watch it because for some reason, I'm also very hungry.  I just use a small plate, allow no refills and eat slowly.  :)

So... that's how *I* am doing ... of to check on you ladies!

Gentle Walking

I'm going to try it today.  I'm still having pain- especially when I move from one position to another... but I am able to walk better, and more upright.  So, today... I'm going to *TRY* to get some gentle walking in.  I'm hoping it'll help me stretch a bit more and loosen up.  However, if there is any pain... I'll stop immediately.

And, I apologize for not logging in to MFP.  I figured since I'm  not exercising... and not really eating much more than protein and chia shakes... it wasn't worth going there.  I'll get back to it come Monday.  :)

Better... but not quite...

Update on Oh Pain and Misery....

I am thankful that I am able to move around a bit more.  I tried my hand (and foot) at driving yesterday, and that was a mistake.  I was in such pain whenever I applied the brakes, I was afraid we wouldn't be able to stop if we had to.  :(  Thankfully, we had just gone to a park 5 miles away to meet some friends.  I brought our lawn chair and stayed put for most of the day, just enjoying the company and the beautiful weather.

Last night I was feeling a little better- moving with less pain- and I seemed to forget that I wasn't at 100% yet.  I tried to stand up from sitting while holding the 8 month old.  Immediate, searing pain... and today- seems like I am set back to where I was on Tuesday.  :(  

I need to remember that I'm not up to par even when I'm feeling better.  I don't know now if I'll be able to do weights again on Monday or not.  Of course, it's only Thursday, so I am going to continue to try and rest as much as possible while doing gentle stretching... VERY gentle stretching when tolerable.  I'll keep you updated.

Food-wise, well... I haven't been doing so well.  I haven't been eating.  I am finding that I am clenching my jaw quite dramatically (likely from the reaction to the pain)... and it hurts something awful to chew.  So, I've mostly been drinking water and protein shakes.  :(  Hopefully as the pain subsides, the jaw clenching will as well.  And I'll be able to resume eating a healthier, better diet.

Off to check on each of you...

Oh Pain and Misery....

I'm out for the week gals.  I found out the very painful way that I have the same birth "defect" as my father... which means it's genetic... which also means, at least some of my children likely have it...  This has happened 5 times before, but I've never done anything about it.  This time, I went in.

I did my Total Gym workout on Saturday, as I had been doing.  It went fine.  I pushed myself harder on the core extensions- it was one of the last workouts, and it hurt... but I decided I wasn't going to be a wimp.  I felt fine all day Saturday, woke up on Sunday and was fine as well. Watered my garden. Made breakfast.  Began getting the children ready for church... then I sat down to dig through the laundry basket for socks.  When I got up, I buckled under the pain.  My coccyx was in terrible pain.  I couldn't stand and I couldn't crawl.  I couldn't MOVE!  I found out that my lowest two vertebrae are fused together- and also to my tailbone.  (Why I felt the pain in the tailbone.)  When I overwork my muscles there, because they too are not aligned right due to the bony deformity... they spasm across my coccyx and pull dreadfully on my lower back.   The extra weight I have doesn't help as it further pulls.

So... what does this mean?  Well, it means that since Sunday afternoon, I've been unable to walk.  Yesterday I could stand straight for  few minutes until the pain became unbearable again.  Today, I can move a bit more.  I'm also very dizzy because I'm on Vicodin for the pain.  My children are having to make their own meals, pick up the baby for me, and basically do EVERYTHING.  :(  

It also means that I cannot do anymore of the back work on the Total Gym (or other).  Once I am feeling better, I can continue with the legs and arms, and I was told to be careful with abdominal exercises to make sure I'm not straining my back.  But, at the very minimum- I'm out for this week.  No cardio either.  (Obviously, I can barely move!) 

The most frustrating part... the very thing I was trying to work on (the weight issue) is what sent me INTO this mess.  It is discouraging.  It is frustrating.  But it is also MOTIVATING!  I was determined to lose weight, gain muscle, and get into shape.  I am STILL that way... but even more so.  I *DO NOT* want to suffer like this when I am older... (because I was told it will only get worse as I age).  I WILL NOT allow that!  Once I get back on my feet again... I'm going to be very careful with my back, but I am NOT going to quit.  I am going to BEAT THIS!  My father is overweight and struggles with this very deformity almost monthly... (he *is* losing weight though... too- which I am so proud of him)... but I WILL NOT SUCCUMB to that! 

:)  So a smiley face for my encouragement...

:(  And a sad face because I am in such pain (the vicodin only lessens the pain, it's still very acutely there)... and I hate feeling like I'm missing out while you gals continue on...   The doctor said if I'm able to bend over and touch my toes without a painful stretch I can begin SLOWLY again (without any back exercises until I lower my weight)... and hopefully that can start next week. 

Thought I would update and let you know I won't be doing the exercise this week... but I'll still be eating my 5-6 meals a day and making healthy choices.  :)